You can find high-quality membranes and housings from Membrane Solutions in their Amazon Store: www.amazon.com/stores/page/F52DD3B0-BCA3-4BE4-A8B2-02EFC4C75251?maas=maas_adg_F811B5F9D875168D72E748538864EC40_afap_abs&ref_=aa_maas&tag=maas Check out my latest RO build: ruclips.net/video/JIbeiX3a16I/видео.html
Great video thank you so much. Just a curious question. I am in the process of making my first RO system. And everything that I’ve seen on the bottom the left-hand side is the concentrate on the right hand side is the permeate you seem to have that reverse just curious why? thank you
Each membrane housing design might be different. For this specific 3012 model from Membrane Solutions, the permeate is the lower port (almost in middle) and concentrate is higher and to the right. www.amazon.com/stores/page/F52DD3B0-BCA3-4BE4-A8B2-02EFC4C75251?maas=maas_adg_93A7FFB30C41A20B0D3842E955AA8A5B_afap_abs&ref_=aa_maas&tag=maas
Thanks for the excellent overview of the RO process. I've held off building a simple RO system, but your video explains things very well. I'm curious where you purchased your canister, membrane and pump?
Hi Dave - thanks for the positive feedback. I purchased the pump, filter canister & filters, the RO canister & membrane, and pressure gauge all from amazon.com. The tubing, fittings, needle valve, and other hardware came from Lowes. You can build this unit for a little over $200 in parts. I will post links to the exact components as a pinned comment here and as a post in the DIY section of our site: www.roseummaple.com Thanks again for watching and be sure to check out our other related videos and subscribe to our channel!
I seem to be missing something here. The highest pressure switch I can find from Aquatec is 80psi. How are you able to run your system at 100 psi without the pressure switch shutting off the pump? Also, is the psi the most important or rather the equal parts permeate/concentrate?
Pressure is more important and you also don't want to drive your recovery rate too high (increases membrane fouling). Recovery rate at each membrane is permeate outflow / inlet flow. Also remember the pump flow rate drops significantly as pressure builds over 100-110 psi. Thatcwill increase recovery rate too (not good). I have another video that gets into details of this: ruclips.net/video/gd6cJ3QdiKk/видео.htmlsi=QlsrQK8aoSDp1-Bd
It has been years since I built that unit, and I tore it apart and rebuilt it with more membranes and a different pump and removed that pressure switch. It had a small Allen key screw in it that let you adjust shut off pressure to a higher level pressure. In the end, I do not think this is a necessary part. ruclips.net/video/JIbeiX3a16I/видео.htmlsi=jWTdxgqrA6vNM9fx ruclips.net/video/9_Eq_sq6Tp0/видео.htmlsi=8ETG40me5Qfwezlz
@@RoseumMapleSyrupThanks for the reply! I've actually watched most of your videos, I chose to make that one as it is the most cost effective version I've found. I'll just eliminate the pressure switch and keep an eye on the system when running. Thank you for the informative videos and for replying to every comment, that's super rare!
Dan I built a system very similar to yours. I balanced the output rates (permeate and sap) and on my first run had the sap discharge into the sap feed container to obtain a higher concentration. The feed container ended up almost empty in a short period of time, while the permeate container was full. Do you have any suggestions? Thank you.
Check the permeate output for sugar (using sap hydrometer or refractometer) or for total desolved solids (using a TDS meter). Also double check that you have the correct ports on the housing for permeate vs concentrate and that your membrane was fully/properly seated in the housing. What pressure were you running it at?
I love it. This year I added 2 more 400 GPD membranes to make a 2 stage setup with 2 feeding into the 3rd. Working great! Details are here: www.sugartree.run/2020/01/diy-2-stage-portable-hobby-ro.html
I have never had a problem. Used this pump for 3 years in an RO and then repurposed it for a tubing vacuum system for the next 4. Make sure you are buying a larger wattage transformer that can handle the peak amperage of the pump.
I have purchased all my materials but I'm concerned that the 8800 pump is rated for 200gpd, but you had no problem running the 400 gpd RO and maintaining 100+ PSI? Is this because of the reduced effect of temps 35-40 degrees
Yes, exactly. The Aquatec 8852-2J03-B424 model can do 1.2 lpm at 100 psi. The membranes max out at 1 lpm at 100 psi. Adjusting for temperature effects, you will probably see about 0.6 lpm in reality. Therefor, the membranes tend to be the most limiting regarding flowrate, not the pump. In fact, I am using the same pump to now feed two 400 GPD membranes in parallel and their outputs combine to a 3rd membrane. That setup is pushing the limits for the pump (1.2 lpm out of pump and 1.2 lpm into the 2 membranes), but it's been working great for me this year: www.sugartree.run/2020/01/diy-2-stage-portable-hobby-ro.html
A better option than the dupont model: Pentair Pentek 158643 3G Slim Line Filter Housing, 3/8" NPT #10 Under Sink Clear Water Filter Housing, Integral Bracket Cap with Pressure Relief Button, 10 Inch, Blue/Clear a.co/d/aeEpNJa
Quick question I noticed this time and the last time after I ran my sap through the RO it had a little bit of an odor, but not before I ran it through. Does that mean that my membranes need to be replaced or washed? I haven’t really run a lot of sap through it and I rinse it every night with fresh water. Thanks
@@RoseumMapleSyrup Great call thank you didn’t think of that. I’m new to the RO thing. I’ll try that tomorrow. The sap should be OK to boil into syrup? Thanks
I would not suggest more than 2 in parallel. The pump can provide a flow rate of 1.2 l/m at 100 psi. The membranes are rated to pass 1 l/m at 100 psi, but in reality only hit about 75% of that rating (0.75 l/m). So 2 in parallel would be able to handle 1.5 l/m. That would go down with temperature of the sap, so the pump is probably just about right for 2 in parallel.
Be it known that you CAN run black walnut sap through one of these. If you think ROing 1.8% maple sap to 5% helps, think what it does if you start with 1.2ish% black walnut sap. Tried it recently after being afraid of pectin problems. Pectin does NOT come out of solution till you cook the sap. Reply
Hi Alvin - this video pertains to the production of maple syrup from the xylem sap in maple trees. Reverse osmosis technology can be used to separate out pure water from various solutions (such as sap or salt water). However, for maple syrup, we use reverse osmosis to take the water out of the sap (which starts as mostly water and ~2% sugar concentrate on average) and keep the sap (which now has a higher concentration of sugar and is called concentrate) to boil down into maple syrup (66% sugar minimum). We also keep the pure water (called permeate) for various purposes, such as cleaning our equipment).
Why do you got for a 50/50 ratio? Is that just on average sap is at a state that about 50% of its water can be removed before it is too dense? If you get a weird year where all the sap is already super sugary, does RO become impossible or less effective? Alternatively, if we are making for example Ironwood syrup, can you remove far more than 50% of the water because it starts at a tiny percentage of the sugar content of maple?
The 50/50 ratio is on a per-pass basis, and is intended to prevent possible damage/degradation of the membrane. Trying to push too much water out on a single pass is hard on the membrane, which is designed to operate within a specific pressure range. However, you can recirculate the concentrate output back through the system (multiple times even), increasing the concentrate each time, or add more RO membranes in series. Maple sap can range from 1% to 4% (or even higher) sugar naturally depending on species and geography and using an RO like this, and recirculating the output, you can achieve concentrate upwards of 8%.
@@RoseumMapleSyrup I was planning on building a similar system to the one in your video (thanks for the help btw). You mentioned multiple stages being able to get down to 8% concentration. How many stages are required for this? If I used multiple stages, would the membrane have a limitation based on differential pressure across the membrane or would it be limited by viscosity? I am trying to reduce the amount of boiling time and I know that you push through each stage, the concentrate will lower in pressure for the next stage and make it less efficient for back pressure and dP across the membrane.
Yes - adding more membranes or recirculating back into the sap tank and through this setup again will continue to concentrate the sap and further reduce boiling time. However, there are limits to doing this due to fouling of the membranes with higher concentrate and reduced flow across addtional downstream membranes in series. A higher flow volume pump would allow for more membranes to be added. This pump can handle 2 or 3. I recently upgraded the pump and will be running 4 membranes to increase concentration % and volume produced/hr. New video forthcoming!
excellent video. thanks One very simple question - what size tubing are you using to connect the components? looks like 1/4 inside diameter in the video but hard to tell for sure.
Make sure you have oriented all of the components in the correct manner. There are explicit inputs and outputs (i.e., flow direction) for the pump, filter housing and membranes.
Adjusting the needle valve increases the pressure in the system, which is necessary for the RO membrane to function correctly and "push" pure water (permeate) out of the sap across the membrane. Without the back pressure, the sap would just flow along the membrane and stay at the same sugar concentration.
I'm building basically the exact same set up that you have here. I having trouble choosing the pressure switch. I'm seeing them fro sale on Amazon, but the ones i've seen are described as 80 psi switches or lower. I know you run this system at about 105 psi, so exactly which switch should I choose? Than for the video
The pump itself has an over pressure switch. Also, the switch I used has and adjustable setting (a small allen screw above the outlet) so you can increase it to around 100 psi. Its listed in the parts list, but I have found it to be of little use and will probably switch it out for a low pressure shut off switch. This will turn the RO off when there is no more sap.
If you balance the permeate and concentrate outputs (50/50) then the sugar concentration will be doubled in this single membrane set-up. If initial sugar content was 2%, the final would be 4% .
I have listed the parts used in a pinned comment to help estimate costs. I built this unit for around $200. An RO is worth every penny on fuel and time savings for pretty much any size maple operation. I have scaled up to 100 taps and run 5 membranes on a larger pump now, but the principles and value of it all remain the same.
Yes. Please see my video for regular flushing during the season: ruclips.net/video/MP1NNt3b2Oo/видео.html For end of season preservative flush please see my other video: ruclips.net/video/m_RBNFkq80U/видео.html
So, in theory, if i was to buy 6 400 GPD membranes and pipe them in parallel, so that the intake feeds all 6 at the same time, would i in theory have a 2500 GPD RO?
It would be way cheaper at that point to go with a single 4040 membrane and housing. Here in Canada I can get a 2600gpd 4040 membrane for $245 and the stainless housing costs $115 for a total of $360. 6 x 400gpd membranes would cost about $600, plus you'd need a whole bunch more fittings and plumbing work.
Well presented, Dan. Did you check the sugar content after the sap went thru the membrane? Interested to know what your raw sap tested out as and what it was after running thru your little RO setup. I'm interested in the 400gpd membrane and enjoy all of your presentations. Thank you. Tom
Thank you Tom! I do not have a sap hydrometer but a single pass reduces water volume by 50% and doubles sugar content in the concentrate. You can do a subsequent pass, or continuous recirculation (concentrate outlet back into raw sap tank) to achieve high sugar content (more water removal). Also, you could add a second membrane in-line (which I plan to do for next year). My trees ran at a 64:1 sap to syrup ratio this year (~1.05% sugar) based on gallons of sap collected to syrup yield (at ~67% sugar, i.e. 67 brix) and I consistently doubled that before boiling (based on volumetric measurements).
Great video Dan, thank you ! Since the Aquatec 8800 series booster pump is intended for membranes up to ± 150 GPD, do you think you would have the exact same results with a 150 GPD membrane ?
Thank you! Short answer is "probably". You would get the same sugar content increase, but it might take a bit longer. A smaller gpd membrane will most likely have a lower flow rate, which also varies based on fluid temperature and pressure. As long as you match pressure and flow rate specs, either membrane size should work. The aquatec 8800 can go up to 125 psi and a little over 1L/m flow rate. I picked a membrane that operated at 100 psi and 1L/m and controlled the operating pressure to be around 100 psi. Membranes typically can provide about 75% of the gpd rating, so you need to size your membrane (and pump) based upon the volume of sap you plan to process (and the time you want it to be processed in).
Limited time 10% discounts on membranes available below until 12/31/2022: 400 GPD RO membrane with housing www.amazon.com/dp/B07BT6HZNH 10% off Code：ROSEUMRO102 150 GPD RO membrane，2 Pack www.amazon.com/dp/B07BPSFLNW 10% off Code：ROSEUMRO102 400 GPD RO membrane，1 Pack www.amazon.com/dp/B071SGLF18 10% off Code：ROSEUMRO10
You can find high-quality membranes and housings from Membrane Solutions in their Amazon Store:
www.amazon.com/stores/page/F52DD3B0-BCA3-4BE4-A8B2-02EFC4C75251?maas=maas_adg_F811B5F9D875168D72E748538864EC40_afap_abs&ref_=aa_maas&tag=maas
Check out my latest RO build:
ruclips.net/video/JIbeiX3a16I/видео.html
Great video!!
Thank you! Please be sure to check out our other videos!
Awesome Dan Thank you!!! Great demo video....very descriptive and well explained.
Glad it was helpful!
thank you for your to the point video.
You are welcome!
Great video thank you so much. Just a curious question. I am in the process of making my first RO system. And everything that I’ve seen on the bottom the left-hand side is the concentrate on the right hand side is the permeate you seem to have that reverse just curious why? thank you
Each membrane housing design might be different. For this specific 3012 model from Membrane Solutions, the permeate is the lower port (almost in middle) and concentrate is higher and to the right.
www.amazon.com/stores/page/F52DD3B0-BCA3-4BE4-A8B2-02EFC4C75251?maas=maas_adg_93A7FFB30C41A20B0D3842E955AA8A5B_afap_abs&ref_=aa_maas&tag=maas
Thanks for the excellent overview of the RO process. I've held off building a simple RO system, but your video explains things very well. I'm curious where you purchased your canister, membrane and pump?
Hi Dave - thanks for the positive feedback. I purchased the pump, filter canister & filters, the RO canister & membrane, and pressure gauge all from amazon.com. The tubing, fittings, needle valve, and other hardware came from Lowes. You can build this unit for a little over $200 in parts.
I will post links to the exact components as a pinned comment here and as a post in the DIY section of our site: www.roseummaple.com
Thanks again for watching and be sure to check out our other related videos and subscribe to our channel!
I seem to be missing something here. The highest pressure switch I can find from Aquatec is 80psi. How are you able to run your system at 100 psi without the pressure switch shutting off the pump?
Also, is the psi the most important or rather the equal parts permeate/concentrate?
Pressure is more important and you also don't want to drive your recovery rate too high (increases membrane fouling). Recovery rate at each membrane is permeate outflow / inlet flow. Also remember the pump flow rate drops significantly as pressure builds over 100-110 psi. Thatcwill increase recovery rate too (not good). I have another video that gets into details of this: ruclips.net/video/gd6cJ3QdiKk/видео.htmlsi=QlsrQK8aoSDp1-Bd
It has been years since I built that unit, and I tore it apart and rebuilt it with more membranes and a different pump and removed that pressure switch. It had a small Allen key screw in it that let you adjust shut off pressure to a higher level pressure. In the end, I do not think this is a necessary part.
ruclips.net/video/JIbeiX3a16I/видео.htmlsi=jWTdxgqrA6vNM9fx
ruclips.net/video/9_Eq_sq6Tp0/видео.htmlsi=8ETG40me5Qfwezlz
@@RoseumMapleSyrupThanks for the reply! I've actually watched most of your videos, I chose to make that one as it is the most cost effective version I've found. I'll just eliminate the pressure switch and keep an eye on the system when running.
Thank you for the informative videos and for replying to every comment, that's super rare!
@@johnods1 You are very welcome. Best wishes on your build!
what an awesome video....what size is the tubing that you are using?
3/8 inch inlet (and all the way up to the white membrane housing) and then 1/4 inch outlets from housing
@@RoseumMapleSyrup thank you for the response...I greatly appreciate it
where can I purchase the 400 gallon RO canister and membrane? Thanks... :)
Amazon only had the 150 gallon RO, .thanks
ebay
Dan I built a system very similar to yours. I balanced the output rates (permeate and sap) and on my first run had the sap discharge into the sap feed container to obtain a higher concentration. The feed container ended up almost empty in a short period of time, while the permeate container was full. Do you have any suggestions? Thank you.
Check the permeate output for sugar (using sap hydrometer or refractometer) or for total desolved solids (using a TDS meter). Also double check that you have the correct ports on the housing for permeate vs concentrate and that your membrane was fully/properly seated in the housing. What pressure were you running it at?
@@RoseumMapleSyrup Thanks Dan... yes, I had the ports switched!
Great video - thank you! Any suggestions for a low pressure switch to shut the unit off when sap runs out?
Dumping product into sap pale so it just keeps recycling sap and you keep an eye on it
I actually have made significant upgrades to this system and am using a GRL8-02 level controller to turn the unit on and off automatically.
@@RoseumMapleSyrup What a great unit. Would be darned difficult to recreate at even close to the same price.
Very helpful, do you still like your setup? Anything you would change? Season is just about here in NH, thanks
I love it. This year I added 2 more 400 GPD membranes to make a 2 stage setup with 2 feeding into the 3rd. Working great! Details are here:
www.sugartree.run/2020/01/diy-2-stage-portable-hobby-ro.html
how do you run the pump for extended time without burning up the transformer? I've killed two transformers this my first year.
I have never had a problem. Used this pump for 3 years in an RO and then repurposed it for a tubing vacuum system for the next 4. Make sure you are buying a larger wattage transformer that can handle the peak amperage of the pump.
So will this cut your sap volume (that needs to be boiled) by 50%?
Yes
I have purchased all my materials but I'm concerned that the 8800 pump is rated for 200gpd, but you had no problem running the 400 gpd RO and maintaining 100+ PSI? Is this because of the reduced effect of temps 35-40 degrees
Yes, exactly. The Aquatec 8852-2J03-B424 model can do 1.2 lpm at 100 psi. The membranes max out at 1 lpm at 100 psi. Adjusting for temperature effects, you will probably see about 0.6 lpm in reality. Therefor, the membranes tend to be the most limiting regarding flowrate, not the pump. In fact, I am using the same pump to now feed two 400 GPD membranes in parallel and their outputs combine to a 3rd membrane. That setup is pushing the limits for the pump (1.2 lpm out of pump and 1.2 lpm into the 2 membranes), but it's been working great for me this year:
www.sugartree.run/2020/01/diy-2-stage-portable-hobby-ro.html
Can you post the model number of the brass and plastic fittings you used on either side of the DuPont filter?
A better option than the dupont model:
Pentair Pentek 158643 3G Slim Line Filter Housing, 3/8" NPT #10 Under Sink Clear Water Filter Housing, Integral Bracket Cap with Pressure Relief Button, 10 Inch, Blue/Clear a.co/d/aeEpNJa
Quick question I noticed this time and the last time after I ran my sap through the RO it had a little bit of an odor, but not before I ran it through. Does that mean that my membranes need to be replaced or washed? I haven’t really run a lot of sap through it and I rinse it every night with fresh water.
Thanks
It's probably due for a soap wash (NaOH).
@@RoseumMapleSyrup
Great call thank you didn’t think of that. I’m new to the RO thing. I’ll try that tomorrow. The sap should be OK to boil into syrup?
Thanks
Ok great thanks
You're welcome!
how many membranes I can install in parallel with a single aquatec pump?
I would not suggest more than 2 in parallel. The pump can provide a flow rate of 1.2 l/m at 100 psi. The membranes are rated to pass 1 l/m at 100 psi, but in reality only hit about 75% of that rating (0.75 l/m). So 2 in parallel would be able to handle 1.5 l/m. That would go down with temperature of the sap, so the pump is probably just about right for 2 in parallel.
Be it known that you CAN run black walnut sap through one of these. If you think ROing 1.8% maple sap to 5% helps, think what it does if you start with 1.2ish% black walnut sap. Tried it recently after being afraid of pectin problems. Pectin does NOT come out of solution till you cook the sap.
Reply
Good to know! I am tapping primarily forest based red maples and most the time my sugar content is only around 1.2% as well. RO is a MUST.
Hello sir, I'm a student and I would like to know what you mean by sap, and why is it important in the production of clean water in the r.o. system?
Hi Alvin - this video pertains to the production of maple syrup from the xylem sap in maple trees. Reverse osmosis technology can be used to separate out pure water from various solutions (such as sap or salt water). However, for maple syrup, we use reverse osmosis to take the water out of the sap (which starts as mostly water and ~2% sugar concentrate on average) and keep the sap (which now has a higher concentration of sugar and is called concentrate) to boil down into maple syrup (66% sugar minimum). We also keep the pure water (called permeate) for various purposes, such as cleaning our equipment).
@@RoseumMapleSyrup Thank you very much sir, for the explanation. I appreciate it :)
Why do you got for a 50/50 ratio? Is that just on average sap is at a state that about 50% of its water can be removed before it is too dense? If you get a weird year where all the sap is already super sugary, does RO become impossible or less effective? Alternatively, if we are making for example Ironwood syrup, can you remove far more than 50% of the water because it starts at a tiny percentage of the sugar content of maple?
The 50/50 ratio is on a per-pass basis, and is intended to prevent possible damage/degradation of the membrane. Trying to push too much water out on a single pass is hard on the membrane, which is designed to operate within a specific pressure range. However, you can recirculate the concentrate output back through the system (multiple times even), increasing the concentrate each time, or add more RO membranes in series. Maple sap can range from 1% to 4% (or even higher) sugar naturally depending on species and geography and using an RO like this, and recirculating the output, you can achieve concentrate upwards of 8%.
@@RoseumMapleSyrup I was planning on building a similar system to the one in your video (thanks for the help btw). You mentioned multiple stages being able to get down to 8% concentration. How many stages are required for this? If I used multiple stages, would the membrane have a limitation based on differential pressure across the membrane or would it be limited by viscosity? I am trying to reduce the amount of boiling time and I know that you push through each stage, the concentrate will lower in pressure for the next stage and make it less efficient for back pressure and dP across the membrane.
Any benefit to running the concentrate through a second ro prior to hitting the evaporator?
Yes - adding more membranes or recirculating back into the sap tank and through this setup again will continue to concentrate the sap and further reduce boiling time. However, there are limits to doing this due to fouling of the membranes with higher concentrate and reduced flow across addtional downstream membranes in series. A higher flow volume pump would allow for more membranes to be added. This pump can handle 2 or 3. I recently upgraded the pump and will be running 4 membranes to increase concentration % and volume produced/hr. New video forthcoming!
excellent video. thanks One very simple question - what size tubing are you using to connect the components? looks like 1/4 inside diameter in the video but hard to tell for sure.
3/8 OD between components and 1/4 OD for both concentrate and permeate outlets.
@@RoseumMapleSyrup thank you
Hi sir we had tried this but the filter was just blasted away so what was the reason behind it
Make sure you have oriented all of the components in the correct manner. There are explicit inputs and outputs (i.e., flow direction) for the pump, filter housing and membranes.
I don't understand how adjusting the needle valve changes the filtering rate. To me it just slows down the time it takes to filter the sap.
Adjusting the needle valve increases the pressure in the system, which is necessary for the RO membrane to function correctly and "push" pure water (permeate) out of the sap across the membrane. Without the back pressure, the sap would just flow along the membrane and stay at the same sugar concentration.
@@RoseumMapleSyrup oh ok thank you for clarifying that for me
No problem!
I'm building basically the exact same set up that you have here. I having trouble choosing the pressure switch. I'm seeing them fro sale on Amazon, but the ones i've seen are described as 80 psi switches or lower. I know you run this system at about 105 psi, so exactly which switch should I choose? Than for the video
The pump itself has an over pressure switch. Also, the switch I used has and adjustable setting (a small allen screw above the outlet) so you can increase it to around 100 psi. Its listed in the parts list, but I have found it to be of little use and will probably switch it out for a low pressure shut off switch. This will turn the RO off when there is no more sap.
This is a very informative video. Thank you. What would the sugar content of the concentrate be after a first run in the RO system? thanks!
If you balance the permeate and concentrate outputs (50/50) then the sugar concentration will be doubled in this single membrane set-up. If initial sugar content was 2%, the final would be 4% .
@@RoseumMapleSyrup Awesome thanks for the reply.,
What is the average cost of these components shown?
I have listed the parts used in a pinned comment to help estimate costs. I built this unit for around $200. An RO is worth every penny on fuel and time savings for pretty much any size maple operation. I have scaled up to 100 taps and run 5 membranes on a larger pump now, but the principles and value of it all remain the same.
How many gallons can you run until the membrane needs to be replaced?
I ran over 400 thru last year and it was fine. Not sure there is a limit if you maintain it well.
@@RoseumMapleSyrup Thanks, I saw somewhere where they recommend back flushing the system?
Yes. Please see my video for regular flushing during the season:
ruclips.net/video/MP1NNt3b2Oo/видео.html
For end of season preservative flush please see my other video:
ruclips.net/video/m_RBNFkq80U/видео.html
So, in theory, if i was to buy 6 400 GPD membranes and pipe them in parallel, so that the intake feeds all 6 at the same time, would i in theory have a 2500 GPD RO?
Yes in theory (2400 actually) but you would have to also scale up the pump to provide adequate flow rate and pressure across all 6 membranes.
It would be way cheaper at that point to go with a single 4040 membrane and housing. Here in Canada I can get a 2600gpd 4040 membrane for $245 and the stainless housing costs $115 for a total of $360. 6 x 400gpd membranes would cost about $600, plus you'd need a whole bunch more fittings and plumbing work.
Well presented, Dan. Did you check the sugar content after the sap went thru the membrane? Interested to know what your raw sap tested out as and what it was after running thru your little RO setup. I'm interested in the 400gpd membrane and enjoy all of your presentations. Thank you. Tom
Thank you Tom! I do not have a sap hydrometer but a single pass reduces water volume by 50% and doubles sugar content in the concentrate. You can do a subsequent pass, or continuous recirculation (concentrate outlet back into raw sap tank) to achieve high sugar content (more water removal). Also, you could add a second membrane in-line (which I plan to do for next year). My trees ran at a 64:1 sap to syrup ratio this year (~1.05% sugar) based on gallons of sap collected to syrup yield (at ~67% sugar, i.e. 67 brix) and I consistently doubled that before boiling (based on volumetric measurements).
Great video Dan, thank you !
Since the Aquatec 8800 series booster pump is intended for membranes up to ± 150 GPD, do you think you would have the exact same results with a 150 GPD membrane ?
Thank you! Short answer is "probably". You would get the same sugar content increase, but it might take a bit longer. A smaller gpd membrane will most likely have a lower flow rate, which also varies based on fluid temperature and pressure. As long as you match pressure and flow rate specs, either membrane size should work. The aquatec 8800 can go up to 125 psi and a little over 1L/m flow rate. I picked a membrane that operated at 100 psi and 1L/m and controlled the operating pressure to be around 100 psi. Membranes typically can provide about 75% of the gpd rating, so you need to size your membrane (and pump) based upon the volume of sap you plan to process (and the time you want it to be processed in).
Sugar Tree Run (
Check out our new RO design video:
ruclips.net/video/9_Eq_sq6Tp0/видео.html
Check out our new RO design video:
ruclips.net/video/9_Eq_sq6Tp0/видео.html
RO Parts List:
Aquatec 8800 series 8852 pump:
www.amazon.com/dp/B01GKG3R7U?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Coronwater TYP-8900K pump
www.aliexpress.com/i/4000770112002.html
RO Membrane:
www.amazon.com/dp/B071FJT7J9?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
DuPont WFPF13003B Filter Housing:
www.amazon.com/dp/B007VZ2O0Q?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Malida Water Pressure Gauge:
www.amazon.com/dp/B0124FAV6Q?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Tank Shutoff (TSO) Pressure Switch: www.amazon.com/dp/B007XVJYZQ?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
5 Micron filters:
www.amazon.com/dp/B01M0XSCDB?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Limited time 10% discounts on membranes available below until 12/31/2022:
400 GPD RO membrane with housing
www.amazon.com/dp/B07BT6HZNH
10% off Code：ROSEUMRO102
150 GPD RO membrane，2 Pack
www.amazon.com/dp/B07BPSFLNW
10% off Code：ROSEUMRO102
400 GPD RO membrane，1 Pack
www.amazon.com/dp/B071SGLF18
10% off Code：ROSEUMRO10